A talk with my younger brother Christian, on style and his never-ending love for skinny jeans:

1. How would you describe your style? – I would describe my style as an oxymoron: meticulously effortless. Nursing school keeps me pretty busy, but over the years I’ve carefully curated a versatile wardrobe that centers around a common color palette. This makes putting together outfits very easy, since pretty much everything in my closet matches. I often stick to solid colors, but I also like to mix a couple of trendier pieces from time to time to offer up a nice contrast in my outfits. I also listen to a handful of Korean artists, and I take a lot of inspiration from their clean and chic styles as well.
2. What are your favorite brands? – Uniqlo has to be my go-to brand. It’s really the best brand that caters to an Asian person’s build and height, and the free alteration service that’s included in your purchase really can’t be beat. For more trendy looks, I usually go for Zara and TopMan. More recently, I’ve jumped on the athleisure trend, so I’ve been building up a small collection of pieces from lululemon and Adidas.
3. Do you have any style tips you want to share? – I have two style tips to share. Number one: don’t neglect the little things. Elements of an outfit like a fresh cut, tie clips and pocket squares, or patterned socks can add a certain “wow” factor to an outfit without being gaudy. And number two: dress with confidence. If you’re trying out a new style or type of clothing, you really have to commit to wearing it and owning it. I’ve pulled off a number of looks over the years simply because of confidence. So remember your basic style principles, but don’t be afraid to break the rules once and a while.
4. What has been your biggest style mistake? – My biggest style mistake has to be the entirety of my freshman year of high school. I went through a huge pop-punk and alternative music phase in high school, and pretty much wore whatever my favorite bands would. Too much neon, too many contrasting patterns. However, my unwavering loyalty to skinny jeans was born during this era of my life, so I guess it wasn’t all that bad.

Shirt & Chinos: Uniqlo

Belt: Levis

Watch: Movado

Loafers: Florsheim

Hair: American Crew, cut by Groom Barbershop (Philadelphia)

Christian is currently a senior at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing and is a candidate for the DNP program in Nurse Anesthesia

– TS℞